Indonesian President Gets UNEP Award For Ocean Protection

JAKARTA, Feb 25 (Bernama) — Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono received an award from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), for protecting oceans at an international environmental meeting, Antara news agency cited a local media as reporting Thursday.

UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner presented President Susilo with the UNEP Award for Leadership and Promoting Oceans and Marine Conservation and Management.

“This award is not only for the government but also for the people of Indonesia,” Steiner was quoted by the Jakarta globe daily as saying during the environmental meeting in Bali, a resort island of Indonesia.

The meeting opened on Monday and will end on Feb 26.

He expected that the award would encourage the government and the people of Indonesia to take further steps to improve management of the country’s wealth of ocean resources.

The award acknowledges the president’s commitment to cooperate with Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, the Philippines and Timor-Leste to preserve coral reefs, the report said.

Delegations from more than 130 countries have gathered for the Bali UNEP conference, which will focus on sustainable development, eco-friendly economies and biodiversity. In a speech at the conference on Wednesday, the president also encouraged ministers to tackle the issue of climate change when they meet informally there later this week.